Image by ~jjjohn~ via Flickr
Brad Shorr of Word Sell, Inc. is hosting a blog contest on Cell Phone Users and Abusers. This is my entry for the contest.
Texting While Driving
A few weeks ago a friend, who will remain anonymous until someone who is handy with search decides otherwise, sent out an interesting tweet.
What is it about “slower traffic keep to the right” that [state] drivers don’t understand?
Immediately seeing the irony in the denouncement of disregard for “the rules of the road” while in that very act also disregarding a different “rule of the road”, I decided to subtly call out this hypocrisy by blasting out this reply.
What is it about “Don’t text while driving” that [state] drivers don’t understand?
After five minutes, it occurred to me that I probably would not receive a reply to this tweet because the receiver was most likely still driving. I decided to take advantage of the situation.
No reply? Oh wait, you are still driving.
A few hours later he did reply – from home I presume.
Would it help if I told you I was texting at a stop light? Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be true.
Well, I guess, sending a text message while at a stop light is better than while trying to stay in a lane. Although, I bet if he had been texting at a light, the person behind him would be sending messages in Morse code soon enough.
What is your favorite cell-phone story?
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Luke Gedeon
42 Comments
haha! your friend’s texting faux pas made me literally lol
Hi Luke, Fabulous entry. Slow left lane drivers drive me crazy, and selective compliance to the rules of the road is one of those things most of us tend to do … thank you very much for participating in the contest.
Meg,
I had noticed that lol does not always mean “out loud”. maybe we need a vlol=virtual and llol=literal.
Brad,
I am one of those slow right-lane drivers, but occasionally I move over to the left because someone is going below the speed-limit. I figure if I am going exactly the speed limit and that is the fastest anyone is supposed to go, I can’t legally be called “slow”. Of course most drivers don’t seem to agree.
Luke, Sorry, but I do agree with most drivers. My views are no doubt shaped by living in the Chicago area, where speed limits are more suggestions than rules. During rush hour, traffic on the Interstates (even in construction zones) can easily exceed 80 mph. So a car going 70 in the left lane can be a real hazard. In the abstract you are probably right and we are wrong, but in practice, it is dangerous to be right!
Texting while driving is stupid and too many people abuse it. I currently live in kentucky and there is no law against cell phone use while driving. In my opinion the real problem with it is that there are people who have the ability to use their phones while driving and there are people that dont. therefor i beileve that cell phone use while driving should be abbolished in all 50 states
Brad, no need to apologize. You are allowed to be wrong if you want to.
No, really, I know that going the speed-limit in the left-lane is dangerous and I am very diligent about staying out of it as much as possible.
I think the speed-laws should be rewritten to reflect what they actually expect us to do and call it a recommended speed if that is how they are going to treat it, but that is yet another project I have no time to tackle, so I will just tolerate it.
beau, I would hate to see another law that is tough to enforce, has little impact, inconveniences people unnecessarily and hands more power to a nearly omnipotent government. maybe a better option is doubling the fine/sentence if you were using a phone at the time when you committed any other offense.
ahah LOL.. i hate texting actually… but funny story ha ha… my friend was texting her boyfriend and talking about what she was gonna do with him later on… but ofcourse nothing lewd… shame on you people.. sheesh.. ahah but turns out it was her dad the whole time on accident … ahah BUSTED… good thing she didn’t reveal too much… but still her dad answered back like nothing was wrong so it threw her off a little..aahah supa funny
Thanks, very funny story!
I like texting actually and use every day..
Funny story, but people forget that tragic accidents have been caused by distracted drivers texting on cell phones.
Hm… What do you think about woman that driving (very fast), plus making some make-up looking into the mirrow and speaking with somebody by her mobile phone? First it was very fun to me when I saw that, that I am afraid. It’s potentional killer inside of the car.
Hello,
I live in Atlanta. And it is a real problem here.
Victor, I think this is a problem all over the US. But, I doubt that was your point. Apparently my blog is no longer flying under the radar.
Thank you for using your name when commenting.
ChinaTrader, I would be much more supportive of a law to ban make-up rather than cell-phones. Putting on make-up while driving is dangerous.
Registry, The sad thing is that we have had technology for over 20 years that could have made texting easier and safer, but nobody has bothered to mass produce it.
Colin, I like the idea of texting but have never really gotten used to the 10 keys for 40 characters thing, but even then it really is not safe while driving.
Tarie, Chatting/texting can lead to some weird experiences because it is much harder to tell who you are talking to. I have had this problem on the phone before, but at least in that case there are only a few other people it could be.
Hey Luke,
Im from the UK and can state that there has been an enormous crack down on using mobile phones whilst driving. There is also talk about the law getting harsher too over here with jail sentences… At the mo if you are caught in certain situations, you can get a ban…. However non serious ones are still 3 points on your license (12 points for a ban).
Adam,
Anyone that finds it necessary to text while in transit should be using public transportation. Taking their license and giving them a bus pass would be a better use of state funds than paying to give them free room and board in prison.
Haha! I have a friend whom I would consistently watch text while driving and was awaiting the day of an ‘accident’. The day arrived! They hit the ditch while texting someone back lol!
Aging Guy,
I am glad they hit the ditch and not a person!
Nice post.
It would be great if someone can develop a “text to voice” and “voice to text” system for mobiles. So we can drive and text at the same time. But we must concentrate on the road because our life is important than a text message.
Cheap,
They have technology that does that but for some reason it has not really caught on.
So funny story
Luke and cheap,
I think it’s time they market that technology. A good marketing strategy will definitely get more people into using it. Great post. Keep it up.
we should avoid the abusers…
How do you propose to avoid the abusers? I guess if everyone took advantage public transportation that might solve the problem.
Texting while driving is so dangerous and yet I am completely guilty of it…How did it happen that we got so addicted to texting that we are putting everyones safety on the line?
hi
I am completely against this texting or using the phone in any way, we need to work a way towards to avoiding any accidents due to this..
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
grate post but one advise don’t use cell while driving but texting is good i like texting
I like the idea of texting but have never really gotten used to the 10 keys for 40 characters thing, but even then it really is not safe while driving.
I really dont like it when other people text while they drive, but i find myself doing more than not. It just seems to happen. I have had a couple close calls but I have tried to cut down on my texting while i drive. i am also guilty of talking on the phone…Please dont tell. Lol hush
.-= Caleb´s last blog ..Market Up-date 12:26 PM =-.
I have had a few close calls while texting and driving. But as a contract IT person I had a 10 minute SLA to respond.
Along the same lines, does it seem easier to talk on a cell phone using a hands free device while driving versus holding the cell phone to your ear???
Today a guy almost drove into me from the other side of the road while using the rear view mirror and both hands to fasten his tie. Just goes to show you don’t need technology to drive badly….
cool!,,,,im really liking this blog!
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